^^^^
Even unoccupied palaces have to be maintained which costs money. At least when they are occupied by the royals a lot of the expenses come from the royal budgets now provided by the Crown Estate and the Duchy of Cornwall. As we have seen when maintenance is the responsibility of a government office it keeps getting put off and put off until pieces start falling off and people are endangered.

When Charles is king, the Cambridges and Harry could stay at Kensington Palace and either Charles stays at Clarence House and opens BP to the public year round, or Charles could move to BP which would allow Clarence House to be emptied which would reduce the number of occupied palaces. St James Palace could also be emptied if Anne and Alexandra move out. Having 2 occupied palaces in London would be much cheaper than 4: BP for the monarch and KP for everyone else.

But Beatrice and Eugenie also live in St. James Palace. So there's more people to consider.

With Prince William and Kate looking to move in with their new baby in the autumn, figures published yesterday by the Royal Household gave an insight into the spiralling cost of renovating Apartment 1a.

Aides have conceded there will be further costs to the taxpayer but have refused to discuss the projected final bill after earlier insisting it would be a six-figure sum well under £1million. The 21-room, four-storey apartment, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, has been gutted to create a stylish home.

The work includes £600,000 on internal refurbishment, involving replacement of plumbing and boilers, re-wiring and removal of asbestos. A further £400,000 has been spent on replacing much of the badly-damaged slate tile and lead roof.

When Charles is king, the Cambridges and Harry could stay at Kensington Palace and either Charles stays at Clarence House and opens BP to the public year round, or Charles could move to BP which would allow Clarence House to be emptied which would reduce the number of occupied palaces. St James Palace could also be emptied if Anne and Alexandra move out. Having 2 occupied palaces in London would be much cheaper than 4: BP for the monarch and KP for everyone else.

Alexandra?? She lives in her own house Thatched Lodge in Richmond.

__________________

This precious stone set in the silver sea,......This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,

When Charles is king, the Cambridges and Harry could stay at Kensington Palace and either Charles stays at Clarence House and opens BP to the public year round, or Charles could move to BP which would allow Clarence House to be emptied which would reduce the number of occupied palaces. St James Palace could also be emptied if Anne and Alexandra move out. Having 2 occupied palaces in London would be much cheaper than 4: BP for the monarch and KP for everyone else.

A King cannot stay at Clarence House, you can't host a state banquet there. BP is never going to be opened go the public year round and even then unless Charles or the government set up and entire fund for voluntary donations for the upkeep and maintenance of the palace leaving anywhere empty is futile.

There are a lot of people at St James' other than Anne and Alexandra, all royals use St James' or KP as their London base housing their staff etc.

St James is the official seat of the monarch and is used for many functions as well as houses offices.

It is also likely that when Charles becomes King that new London bases will need to be found for Andrew, Anne and Edward who all have apartments/offices/both at BP and also, if Philip outlives The Queen for him.

I suspect that St James, which includes CH, will be used for Charles' siblings in that case but I don't think Beatrice and Eugenie will stay in St James' once they marry.

Just my opinion. Charles will move to BP, W & C will move to CH, Harry will move to 1A. Charles's siblings will move to SJP or KP, and if DoE survives QE2, he will move to Windsor so he can live out the remainder of his days overlooking his garden and WGP.

Just my opinion. Charles will move to BP, W & C will move to CH, Harry will move to 1A. Charles's siblings will move to SJP or KP, and if DoE survives QE2, he will move to Windsor so he can live out the remainder of his days overlooking his garden and WGP.

Given the renovation now finishing up - which property will be nicer for a family - CH or KP A1? I understand that CH has room for a lot of staff, but as a home fit for a family with children, KP has more secluded gardens and room to play, I would think.
KP was fit for Charles as the boys grew up. Has anyone taken the CH tour to see how family friendly it is?
Finally, since Catherine and William are busy kitting out KP A1 to their own taste, and depending on the timing of things, they may not be all that excited about having to tackle it all over again at CH.
That's just some of the things I thought about as I read this discussion.

Just my opinion. Charles will move to BP, W & C will move to CH, Harry will move to 1A. Charles's siblings will move to SJP or KP, and if DoE survives QE2, he will move to Windsor so he can live out the remainder of his days overlooking his garden and WGP.

I don't think we'll see that much moving around. I think everyone will stay put.

When Charles becomes King, he & Camilla will move to BP. William & Kate will stay at KP. Harry stays wherever he is if given a marital property in London. Clarence House remains vacant until William becomes King then it will be Baby Cambridge's home. Baby Cambridge will be about 30 and might be married with kids.

This of course is under the assumption that the Queen lives until she is 100. Charles lives to the mid 90s.

I think KP should be closed. Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and St. James' Palace, are all confined in the same area. KP is a separate area and requires separate protection.

I don't think we'll see that much moving around. I think everyone will stay put.

When Charles becomes King, he & Camilla will move to BP. William & Kate will stay at KP. Harry stays wherever he is if given a marital property in London. Clarence House remains vacant until William becomes King then it will be Baby Cambridge's home. Baby Cambridge will be about 30 and might be married with kids.

This of course is under the assumption that the Queen lives until she is 100. Charles lives to the mid 90s.

I think KP should be closed. Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and St. James' Palace, are all confined in the same area. KP is a separate area and requires separate protection.

Buckingham Palace is not in the same area as far as security is concerned, so limited savings in your scenario.

KP is considered very secure. The entire palace houses homes for both royals and non-royals and as stated previously, a museum. All the refurbishment has cost millions (for both the Charity running the Museum and the BRF). Won't close IMO

__________________

This precious stone set in the silver sea,......This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,

Kensington Palace will be William & Catherine's official London residence.

I'm not sure what become of Clarence House one Charles is King. I think some royal correspondents think Charles will continue using the residence, when he's King. Probably for some official purposes. It could be handed down to Harry, especially when he gain a family of his own.

I get think feeling that Anne, Andrew and Edward offices will remain at Buckingham Palace.

__________________"If you are always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be."

A King cannot stay at Clarence House, you can't host a state banquet there. BP is never going to be opened go the public year round and even then unless Charles or the government set up and entire fund for voluntary donations for the upkeep and maintenance of the palace leaving anywhere empty is futile.

There are a lot of people at St James' other than Anne and Alexandra, all royals use St James' or KP as their London base housing their staff etc.

Prince Charles has reportedly said he wants to live at Windsor and open up Buckingham Palace. Also, it could be argued that only the head of state should be housed at taxpayers expense. The other royals could perhaps live in privately owned homes in the capital. Otherwise they could pay rent to live the palaces like Prince Michaiel and the Yorkies do. If the Cambridges were to start paying rent to live in KP, it would help justify the £1m that has just been spent on them.

A King cannot stay at Clarence House, you can't host a state banquet there. BP is never going to be opened go the public year round and even then unless Charles or the government set up and entire fund for voluntary donations for the upkeep and maintenance of the palace leaving anywhere empty is futile.

Couldn't Charles live at Clarence House, but do all his entertainment and state banquets at Buckingham Palace. Isn't that how most of the continents Europeans do. Live in a separate place, but work out of a different place.

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QEII and Philip wanted that at the beginning of their reign, since CH had just been refurbished for them, but the government would not allow it. The government felt BP was the monarchs official London residence and the monarch had to actually live there.

Prince Charles has reportedly said he wants to live at Windsor and open up Buckingham Palace. Also, it could be argued that only the head of state should be housed at taxpayers expense. The other royals could perhaps live in privately owned homes in the capital. Otherwise they could pay rent to live the palaces like Prince Michaiel and the Yorkies do. If the Cambridges were to start paying rent to live in KP, it would help justify the £1m that has just been spent on them.

"Charles" has said a lot of things! Most of which i doubt will ever come to fruition.
Who's arguing that Anne, Andrew, Edward, Sophie, Kents, Gloucester etc should pay rent on places they don't even live? KP or SJP is used as their London base when they're in London and for their staff. Michaels and Yorks live permanently in KP, that's a reason for them to pay rent. Should The Queen pay rent on BP so it justify's the millions of pounds worth of renovation? The Queen can use her 'pay rise' how she likes AFAIK, apparently renovation isn't top of her list.